5 officials face firing after Frazier investigation

School district notifies Gagnon and four others of its intent to terminate them

By CHRIS ANDERSON and KATY BERGEN

Five school administrators were sent notifications that the district intends to fire them based on findings in a misconduct investigation of a former Manatee High school assistant football coach.

The decision comes after a two-month internal inquiry of groping allegations against Rod Frazier implicated Assistant Superintendent Bob Gagnon, formerly the principal of Manatee High, former school district investigator Debra Horne and former Manatee High assistant principals Gregg Faller and Matthew Kane.

Also recommended for proposed termination by the school district: Scott Martin, the former assistant superintendent who briefly took over a district investigation of Frazier before police intervened this year.

The five administrators have been on paid leave since early August, standard procedure when school employees are being investigated for misconduct. Gagnon, Kane, Martin and Faller did not immediately return calls Wednesday.

Byrd said his client may hire an administrative law attorney and plans on exercising her right to a hearing.

“We'll fight the termination like anybody else,” Byrd said Wednesday. “She's entitled to due process and she wants to have a hearing where you can confront the accusations.”

Byrd also said he responded to a letter sent to Horne two weeks ago by the Florida Department of Education stating the agency was looking into any professional wrongdoings on Horne's part.

“We disputed the allegations,” Byrd said.

Because of a state statute that protects school personnel who are being investigated for misconduct, the school's investigative report will not become public record for 10 days.

The district inquiry, which began in July, mirrors a four-month police investigation this year that led to Frazier being charged by the state with seven counts of simple battery for alleged lewd behavior toward students and staff.

He has also been charged with three counts of interfering with a student's attendance.

The police investigation also concluded that four school administrators — Gagnon, Horne, Faller and Kane — were informed of reports of impropriety, but decided without notifying police or a state abuse hotline that the allegations did not constitute child abuse.

After being put on paid leave since police began their investigation on Feb. 7, Frazier officially resigned on July 26, shortly after being charged by the state.

On Aug. 15 Gagnon, Horne, Faller and Kane were charged by the state with failure to report child abuse, a third degree felony in Florida. Gagnon, Kane and Faller were also charged with lying to police, a misdemeanor.

They have pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The district, under the guidance of new school investigator Troy Pumphrey, then reopened its investigation into Frazier's conduct, as well as others that may have known about it.

In a statement released by the school district, Superintendent Rick Mills said, “All employees of this district are expected to make students their primary professional concern. Moreover, as leaders, district administrators have a paramount responsibility to meet the expectations of providing a safe and secure environment for students and staff.

“Unfortunately, the findings of the Frazier investigation reflect that these administrators failed to fulfill these obligations; causing me to lose all confidence in their abilities to serve as administrators in this district,” Mills said. “I further found that just cause exists to terminate their employment.”

Mills has previously said that the district hired special counsel to help guide the internal investigation.

According to state statutes, employees can only be put on unpaid leave after receiving written allegations and being informed of the district's intention to terminate.

The recipients of the letters can request a hearing within 14 days upon receipt.

A Division of Administrative Hearing officer from outside the county would oversee the process, should that route be elected.

The School Board would then approve or deny the district's request for termination.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.